Trip Notes for July 18-19: Delaware Handicap, Indiana Derby, Eddie Read, and more...

Saturday, July 18

Delaware - Kent (race 7)

COMMENT: Syntax continued his ascent, winning for the third time in his last four starts and notching his first stakes win. Coming off a win over N1X foes at Belmont June 20, he stalked in fourth as My Team set a modest pace, moved closer turning for home to be just behind My Team and All I Karabout, challenged those two by midstretch, got the better of them and kept hard-charging Money Multiplier at bay. Money Multiplier lagged back, edged closer on the far turn and finished well. Tiz My Valentine was just in front of Money Multiplier, stayed close to that foe to the top of the lane but didn’t accelerate quite as strongly as that rival. All I Karabout dogged pacesetter My Team from the start, was still in the thick of it by midstretch but weakened. Chief Kitten, the favorite, got bumped solidly at the start, was shuffled back to last and never made a move.

Delaware - Delaware Handicap (race 10)

COMMENT: Sheer Drama couldn’t get to Frivolous when second to that gal in the Grade 2 Fleur De Lis at Churchill June 13, but the added distance played to her strength as she gained her revenge while notching her first Grade 1 victory. She got a great trip sitting just behind Frivolous as that gal set a modest pace, moved up to challenge that foe into the lane, finally got the better of her in midstretch and edged away in the final half-furlong. She would appear ready to take on the likes of Wedding Toast, Beholder and Untapable for the division lead. The Grade 1 Personal Ensign at Saratoga Aug. 29 may be next. Frivolous went right out to the lead, battled back gamely when hooked by Sheer Drama turning for home, and couldn’t keep pace late while well clear of the rest. America, fifth in the Fleur De Lis, lagged back and ran on well for third. Rosalind, fourth in the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps at Belmont last month and inexplicably favored, stalked in fourth but never mustered a run. She’s now 0 for 6 on dirt so a return to grass figures prudent.

Arlington - Hanshin Cup (race 7)

COMMENT: Midnight Cello, coming off three dull outings on dirt, moved to synthetic for the first time and posted the mild upset. He bobbled a bit at the start, so Hogy grabbed the early lead. But that didn’t last as Midnight Cello quickly moved up the inside to grab the lead, opened up a clear advantage through modest splits and powered home when asked to win easily. Mister Mardi Gras, second in this last year and coming back quickly after running fifth in the Grade 3 Stars & Stripes here July 11, bided his time early, as is his custom and put in a solid rally to get up for second. Hogy, who gave way badly to finish 12th as the 6-5 favorite in this last year and who was the even-money favorite here, went right out to the lead, relinquished pacesetting duties to the winner, and was no match for that rival when it mattered and couldn’t fend off Mister Mardi Gras in the final half-furlong.

Indiana - Indiana Oaks (race 8)

COMMENT: Heavy rains before the start of the program made the track sloppy and sealed. High Dollar Woman found the going to her liking as she posted the biggest win of her career. She went right out to the lead, took some pressure from Sweetgrass while setting slowish splits, saw Sweetgrass moved closer into the lane but rebuffed that challenge and was edging away again late. Sweetgrass, coming off a rallying third in the Grade 3 Iowa Oaks, dogged the winner from the start, moved closer turning for home, and weakened just a bit late. Oceanwave, favored dropping out of a couple Grade 1’s (seventh in the Kentucky Oaks; fifth in the Acorn), lagged back and finished well, though she was never a danger to the top two. Ahh Chocolate, making her first start since running third in the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan at Pimlico May 15, stalked in third, looked poised to make a run into the lane but it never came. Pangburn, a sharp second in the Iowa Oaks, sat midpack and never mustered a run.

Indiana - Indiana Derby (race 9)

COMMENT: This was billed as a rematch between Mr. Z and Divining Rod, who were first and third separated by a neck in the Ohio Derby June 20. However, Tiz Shea D posted the mild upset. He ran well on wet going when second in the Grade 3 Gotham March 7 and he showed again here such footing is just fine by him. He sat second as Mr. Z bounced out to set a slow pace, moved closer turning for home while being floated out by that rival’s erratic path, got the better of Mr. Z by midstretch and edged away late. Mr. Z bore out on the far turn to carry Tiz Shea D quite wide, battled back when hooked by that rival into the lane but couldn’t keep pace late while holding second. Divining Rod stalked in fourth, came with a steady run, but couldn’t get past Mr. Z. Island Town, winner of the Grade 3 Matt Winn at Churchill June 13, stalked early in third, got shuffled back some while wide and never made a run. Far Right, sixth in the Ohio Derby, showed no speed, as is his custom, to be last until the stretch and was able to pass just a couple tired runners.

Del Mar - Eddie Read (race 4)

COMMENT: Racing over a yielding course, Gabriel Charles bided his time early as Big Cazanova set a modest pace, moved closer as the field bunched on the far turn, swung wide into the lane for clear sailing and finished strongly to win going away. Twentytwentyvision, stepping up after some good work against optional claimers, stalked the pace, made a smart run to grab the lead by midstretch but was no match for the winner. Finnegans Wake, a multiple Grade 1 winner, was coming back in a hurry after a fourth on dirt in the Grade 1 Gold Cup June 27, He was devoid of speed, as is his custom, sitting a distant last, commenced his run turning for home, and finished with good energy. Midnight Storm, favored off a powerful optional claiming win at Santa Anita April 16 and sharp second in the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile there June 13, seemed in a good spot, dogging pacesetter Big Cazanova, but then weakened in the lane.

Sunday, July 19

Del Mar - San Clemente (race 8)

COMMENT: Prize Exhibit showed her smashing win in the Grade 2 Senorita at Santa Anita June 27 no fluke, again powering home to win easily. She showed no speed, as is often her want, sitting last early as Spirit of Xian set the pace, commenced her run on the far turn and powered past her rivals to win going away. Off this she figures one of the favorites for the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks Aug. 15 where she’s likely to run into the West’s top-rated 3-year-old turf filly, Spanish Queen. Sunset Glow, the favorite, dogged Spirit of Xian, moved past that tiring rival into the lane but couldn’t hold off the winner. Paulina’s Love stalked the pace and stayed on for third. Spirit of Xian battled back when hooked into the lane but weakened a bit late.